Pencil sharpener



Filed April 18, 1932 Patented Sept. 2%, 1932 RICHARD H. BAIB, F CAMPHILL, PENNSYLVANIA PENCIL SHARPENER Application filed April 18, 1932.Serial No. 605,891.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in pencilSharpeners and has for an object to provide a pencil sharpener includinga support and a sharpening means mounted on and eccentric to saidsupport and adapted to receive an end of a pencil and sharpen the sameon being rotated about the support by the pencil as a crank.

Another object is to provide a pencil sharpener as stated and includinga mounting for the sharpening means whereby said means is held againstrotation about its own axis but may rock sideways to prevent breaking ofthe lead of the pencil by lateral cramping of the pencil during thesharpening operation.

A further object is to provide a device having the characteristicsdescribed and which is eflicient in operation and of simple andinexpensive construction whereby it may be manufactured and sold at arelatively low price. y

ther objects and advantages willbecome apparent from a consideration ofthe following detailed description taken in connectlon with theaccompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the inventionis shown. However, it will be understood that the invention is notlimited to the/details dis closed but includes all such variations andmodifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scopeof the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a pencil sharpener in accordance with theinvention, part of the cover being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section showingthe interior mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a view with the cup or case and the cover sectioned as alongthe line 38 of Fig. 1 and showing a pencil being sharpened; Fig. 4 is anenlarged plan view illustrating b the mounting for the sharpening means;

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.; and

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the sharpening means.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the improved pencil sharpener ashere disclosed includes a cup or case member 7 comprising a bottom wall8 and preferably a circular side wall 9, the cup being open at its upperend. Arranged centrally of the bottom wall" 8 and extending outwardlyand upwardly there from is a post or support hollow in its upper endportion as shown in Fig. 3 and terminating at a point just above oroutwardly of the upper or outer edge of the side wall 9 of the case.

A cover 11 normally closes the upper or open end of the cup or case 7and this cover as here shown is in the form of a disc provided centrallywith a pin or rivet l2 rigid with the cover and of a length and diameterto be received in the hollow end portion of the post or support 10 andform a pivotfor the cover on which it may rotate. Here it will be notedthat the fit of the pin 12 in the post 10 is such that when the cover 11is in place the cover bears against the outer or upper end portion ofthe postand is held in a position spaced slightly outwardly or upwardlyof the outer or free edge of the wall 9. This is most clearly shown inFig. 3 from which figure it will be apparent that the cover may berotated independent of the cup and with the pin 12 as its axis. Ifpreferred the 7 bearing may be at the lower end of the pin 12.

Carried by the cover 11 in eccentric relation tothe pin 12 is a. pencilsharpening means 13 comprising a body member 14 havin g a taperedsockettherein and having a slot in its side Wall leadingto-said socketand through which extends a sharpening blade 15 which may be removablysecured to the body as by a screw 16. Extending upwardly or outwardlyfrom the body member 14 is a hollow stem or neck portion 17 throughwhich an end portion of a pencil may be inserted into the socket in thebody. On inserting the end of a pencil into the socket in the body 14and turning the sharpening member relative to the pencil or turning thepencil relative to the sharpening member the end portion of the pencilwill be cut away at an angle and the pencil sharpened as will beunderstood. I v

The sharpening means 13 is as above suggested mounted on or carried bythe. coverbelow its center.

and to this end the neck portion 17 is enlarged intermediate its ends toprovide a ball 18. Cover 11 is provided with an opening 19 the edges ofwhich are somewhat undercut as shown in Fig. 5 and secured against theunderside of the cover is a plate having a perforation or openingregistering with the opening 19 in the cover and with its edges cut atan angle as are the edges of the opening 19. However, it will be notedthat the edges of the openingin the plate incline in a directionopposite to the direction of inclination of the edge of the opening 19in the cover. p

The plate 20 is secured to the cover 11 by anysuitable means as byrivets 21 and the sharpening means 13 is mounted on the cover by havingthe ball portion 18 of the sharpening means disposed in the openings inthe cover. and plate 20. An inspection of Fig. 5 will clearlyshow thatthe upper edge of the opening 19 in the cover engages the ball above itscenter while the lower edge of the opening through the plate 20 engagesthe ball Therefore, the ball is securely mounted and the sharpeningmeans 13 attached to the'cover.

This mounting means as thus far described would permit the, sharpeningmeans to retate and also rock relative the cover. The ability of thesharpening means to rock relative to the cover is'an important featureof the invention and prevents breaking of the lead of the pencil bylateral cramping during the sharpening operation as will later appear.However, the sharpening means must be held against rotation about itsown axis or relative to the cover and to this end means are provided tosecure the sharpening means against independent rotation and at the-sametime permit it to rock in all directions relative to the cover. as heredlSClOSGCl' comprises a tongue or tit 22 carried by the plate 20 andloosely fitting in aslot 23 in the ball 18. 1

The body 7 may be provided with flutes or corrugations in or on theouter surface of its side wall 9 both to give the body a finishedappearance and to provide a better grip when" the body is being held inthe hand during the operation of sharpening a pencil. From the drawingit willbe apparent that the neck 17 extends at theupper side of thecover 11 when the cover is on the body 7 and when a pencil is to besharpened it is but necessary to insert an end of the pencil through thehollow pin or neck 17 andinto the tapered socket in the body 14 and tothen rotate the cover with the pin 12 as an axis andusing the pencil 25as a crank. During this operation the pencil will be held againstrotation about its own axis and the sharpening means will berotatedabout the pencil and sharpen Shavings from the pencil will becaught crank for operating the device.

This means in the cup 7 and the cup may be emptied at any time bylifting off the cover. To facilitate this last operation the cover ispreferably of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the cupwhereby the edge portions of the cover are easily engaged by thefingers. During the sharpening operation it is important that thesharpening means 13 be so mounted that it may rock sideways as suggestedby the broken lines in Fig. 3 since otherwise the-pencil is likely to bebroken due to lateral cramping. l/Vith the present device it is possibleto sharpen a pencil with one hand since the device may be disposed on orsecured to any suitable support and a pencil inserted through the stem17 and used as a It is not necessary to hold the pencil in one hand andturn a, crank or the like with the other. If desired, the entiresharpener including the cup 7 Y may be held in one hand while with theother hand a pencil is inserted and used as a crank foroperating thedevice during which operation the pencil is sharpened.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is 1. Ina pencil sharpener, a case, a cover member rotatableon the case, asharpening means including a tapered socket and an inclined bladeextending into the socket, means mounting said sharpening means on thecover at the inner side thereof and against rotation relative thereto,and said cover having an opening therethrough to said tapered socketwhereby on inserting a pencil into the socket and using the pencil as acrank to rotate the cover the sharpening means will be rotated about thepencil and sharpen it.

' post and rotatably mounting the cover relative to the case, asharpening means including a tapered socket and an inclined bladeextending into the socket, means mounting said sharpening means on thec'overat the inner side thereof and against rotation relative thereto,and said coverhaving an opening therethrough to said tapered socketwhereby on inserting a pencil into the socket and using the pencil as acrank to rotate the cover the sharpening means will be rotated about thepencil and sharpen it.

3. In a pencil sharpener, a case including bottom and side walls, a postarranged centrally of said bottom wall and extending outwardlytherefrom, said post hollow in its outer end portion, a cover, a pin onsaid cover and disposed in the hollow end portion of the post androtatably mounting the cover relative to the case, sharpening meansincluding a tapered socket and an inclined blade extending into thesocket, means mounting said sharpening means on the cover at the innerside thereof for lateral rocking movement in all directions and againstrotation relative to the cover, and said cover having an openingtherethrough to said tapered socket whereby on inserting a pencil intothe socket and using the pencil as a crank to rotate the cover thesharpening means will be rotated about the pencil and sharpen it.

4. In a pencil sharpener, a cylindrical case including bottom and sidewalls, a post arranged centrally of said bottom wall and extendingoutwardly therefrom, said post hollow in its outer end portion, a cover,a pin on said cover and disposed in the hollow end portion of the postand rotatably mounting the cover relative to the case, sharpening meansincluding a tapered socket and an inclined blade extending into thesocket, means mounting said sharpening means on the cover at the innerside thereof and against rotation relative thereto, said cover having anopening therethrough to said tapered socket whereby on inserting apencil into the socket and using the pencil as a crank to rotate thecover the sharpening means will be rotated about the pencil and sharpenit, and said. cover of greater diameter than said case whereby its ed e)ortions ma be easil ras ed to remove it from the case.

5. In a pencil sharpener, a case, a cover rotatable on the case, asharpening means including a tapered socket and an inclined bladeextending into the socket, means mounting said sharpening means forrocking movement in all directions on the cover at the inner sidethereof and against rotation relative thereto, and said cover having anopening therethrough to said tapered socket whereby on inserting apencil into the socket and using the pencil as'a crank to rotatethecover the shapening means will be rotated about the pencil and sharpenit and will rock to prevent breaking of the lead of the pencil bylateral cramping thereof during the sharpening operation.

6. In a pencil sharpener, a case, a cover rotatable on the case, asharpening means including a tapered socket, an inclined blade extendinginto the socket, and a hollow stem leading to said socket, said coverhaving an opening therethrough eccentric to its axis of rotation, saidsharpening means having its hollow stem extending through said openingin the cover, means mounting said hollow stem in said opening in thecover and against rotation therein, and said stem adapted to have apencil inserted therethrough and into the socket whereby on using thepencil as a crank to rotate the coverthe sharpening means will berotated about the pencil and sharpen it. a

7 In a pencil sharpener, a case, a cover ro- 'inthe cover, meansmounting said hollow stem in said opening in the cover and againstrotation therein, said stem adapted to having a pencllmsertedtherethrough and into the socket whereby on using the pencil as a crankto rotate the cover the sharpening means will be rotated about thepencil and sharpen it, and said mounting means mounting said stem forrocking movement relative to the cover to prevent breaking of the leadof the pencil by lateral cramping thereof during the sharpeningoperation.

8. In a pencil sharpener, a case, a cover rotatable on the case, asharpening means including a member having a tapered socket therein, aninclined blade extending into the socket, and a hollow stem leading tosaid socket, said cover having an opening therethrough eccentric to itsaxis of rotation, said sharpening means having its hollow stem extendingthrough said opening in the cover, means mounting said hollow stem insaid opening in-the cover, said mounting means including a ball rigid onthe stem and engaged above its center by the edges of the opening, aperforated plate at the underside of the cover and engaging the ballbelow its center, complemental means on said ball and plate and securingthe ball against rotation relative to the cover but permitting ofrocking move ment of the ball and thus the sharpening means, and saidstem adapted to-have a pencil inserted therethrough into the socketwhereby on using the pencil as a crank to rotate the cover thesharpening means will be rotated about the pencil and sharpen it and thesharpening means will rock to prevent breaking of the lead of the pencilby lateral cramping; thereof in the sharpening operationa 9. In a pencilsharpener, a case, a cover rotatable on the case, a sharpening meansincluding a member having a tapered socket therein, an inclined bladeextending into the socket, and a hollow stem leading to said socket,said cover having an opening therethrough eccentric to its axis ofrotation, said sharpening means having its hollow stem extending throughsaid opening in the cover, means mounting said hollow stem insaidopening in the cover, said means including a ball rigid on the stem andengaged above its center by the edges of the opening, a perforated plateat the under side of the cover and engaging the ball below its center,said ball having a slot therein, a tongue on said plate and enteringsaid slot whereby said ball and the sharpening means may rock relativeto the cover but are held against rotation relative thereto, and saidstem adapted to have a pencil inserted therethrough into thesocketwhereby on using the pencil as a crank to rotate the cover thesharpening means will be rotated about the pencil and sharpen it and thesharpening means will rock to prevent breaking of the pencil by lateralcramping thereof in the sharpening operation.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

RICHARD H. BAIR.

